“That is not the way to speak,” observed the mother, “and you must learn not to make remarks when you are not spoken to. If your father heard you talking like that he would punish you severely. I am always very quick about getting your food, and greediness is a very shocking fault—remember that.” “But I’m not greedy, I’m hungry.” “Be silent, sir, at once!” The three little birds were very much frightened at this and kept quiet while the fish were being broken up and divided into four parts. When this was done a great gobbling began, and no one spoke for some time. “Now,” said the old bird, when every piece had disappeared. “I am going to speak to you very seriously.” At this there was a dead silence, for all the little birds felt that their mother was in no humour to be trifled with this morning. “Remember that I forbid you all distinctly to make any noise to-day or to scream or chatter loudly. I have a very good reason for doing so, and as I wish you to see for yourselves how very important it is, I will tell you about it. Are you all listening?” “Yes! Yes!” cried the little birds. “Your father is in great trouble,” she began, “for a most disagreeable thing has happened and our mistress is very angry. A ship is close by and there is a strange man on board who wears a black mask. We are afraid that he has come to take the Princess away. Yesterday, on our return from fishing, we found the ship here, and, what was far worse, discovered that the Heart which the Princess held in her hand had gone. Your father thinks there is every reason to believe that the man with the black mask has got it and he is much distressed, for our mistress has used words to him which have hurt his feelings deeply. Now, if any of you scream and make a noise, it may draw the attention of that wicked man in the ship to this place and he may discover the way to our mistress’s cave, which lies, as I suppose you all know, behind that piece of rock shaped like a fish’s head sticking out in yonder corner. If he got to her he might do her some mischief, or perhaps force her to give him the Princess. Besides which, he would certainly wring all your necks—and then, how would you like _that_?” Here one of the little birds began to cry. “How dare you make that noise!” said his mother, prodding him with her beak. “Stop crying instantly, sir, or we may all be lost!” The squeaking soon ceased and, quiet being restored, one of the little birds, being of an argumentative turn of mind, began to ask questions. “But if that dreadful man got to our mistress,” he inquired, “how could he find his way to the Princess afterwards?” “If he were in the cave he might see how our mistress goes to her; you know, she takes off her left shoe and knocks at the wall with it. Then she says: “‘Left-foot shoe, left-foot shoe, Open, rock, and I’ll pass through.’